You have found that two types of bacteria (one large, one small) can undergo horizontal gene transfer. The smaller cells encode the green fluorescent protein (GFP), and the large cells do not glow. You mix the two types of cells together, and allow them to grow together on an agar plate. The next day, you find that some of the larger cells have acquired the gfp gene and now glow green, indicating that the gene has moved from the smaller cells to the larger cells. You want to determine whether this is occurring via conjugation, transformation, or transduction. You have available a few different experimental tools: -Pure cultures of the large, non-glowing bacteria -Pure cultures of the small, gfp-expressing, glowing bacteria -0.2 µm filters (will trap both types of cells, but will let other smaller materials through) -DNase enzyme (degrades DNA) -Fluorescent microscopes and electron microscopes -All other necessary test tubes, liquid growth media, agar plates, etc Briefly outline a series of experiments that would allow you to determine which of the three modes of HGT is responsible for the gfp transfer between the small and large cells.
Genetic Recombination
Recombination is crucial to this process because it allows genes to be reassorted into diverse combinations. Genetic recombination is the process of combining genetic components from two different origins into a single unit. In prokaryotes, genetic recombination takes place by the unilateral transfer of deoxyribonucleic acid. It includes transduction, transformation, and conjugation. The genetic exchange occurring between homologous deoxyribonucleic acid sequences (DNA) from two different sources is termed general recombination. For this to happen, an identical sequence of the two recombining molecules is required. The process of genetic exchange which occurs in eukaryotes during sexual reproduction such as meiosis is an example of this type of genetic recombination.
Microbial Genetics
Genes are the functional units of heredity. They transfer characteristic information from parents to the offspring.
You have found that two types of bacteria (one large, one small) can undergo horizontal gene transfer. The smaller cells encode the green fluorescent protein (GFP), and the large cells do not glow. You mix the two types of cells together, and allow them to grow together on an agar plate. The next day, you find that some of the larger cells have acquired the gfp gene and now glow green, indicating that the gene has moved from the smaller cells to the larger cells.
You want to determine whether this is occurring via conjugation, transformation, or transduction. You have available a few different experimental tools:
-Pure cultures of the large, non-glowing bacteria
-Pure cultures of the small, gfp-expressing, glowing bacteria
-0.2 µm filters (will trap both types of cells, but will let other smaller materials through)
-DNase enzyme (degrades DNA)
-Fluorescent microscopes and electron microscopes
-All other necessary test tubes, liquid growth media, agar plates, etc
Briefly outline a series of experiments that would allow you to determine which of the three modes of HGT is responsible for the gfp transfer between the small and large cells.
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